The Lightsaber

Set in the same year as The Past Will Repeat

Dedicated to Tailey. You were my best friend and the best girl in the world. No one can replace you. I miss you.

This had become Nadae's ritual for the past six months. Wake up in the early hours, run through the markets with her Master on her back, meditate, train with sparring sticks in the arena with Obi, eat breakfast, study her ancient history, practice her telekenises, eat lunch, meditate again on her way to attend senate and Council sessions at her master's side. If she had enough time, she'd try to have another sparring session with Obi if he wasn't off planet. Then she'd have her dinner before sneaking away to tinker away at her ancient lightsaber.

She hated to admit it, but sparring with Obi and tinkering with the lightsaber had become a sanctuary to her mind.

Being a Jedi constantly felt immense tense and heavy at times. She would have to ask Master Yoda about techniques on dealing with the emotions she shouldn't be having.

"You've been at that thing for months."

Nadae nearly dropped the lightsaber. "You startled me, Master Jinn."

He chuckled, walking through her room to the workstation she had set up next to the window, looking out into the nocturnal atmosphere of the city.

"You love rebuilding that lightsaber, don't you?" he placed a hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged. "It feels like meditation, but without the Force."

"Ah," he pulled up a chair and sat down next to her. "Sometimes doing something with your hands is the best way to calm oneself. Well done, Padawan."

She smiled shyly into her lap. "It's nearly complete, Qui-Gon."

"I can see. Only component left out is the crystal you found."

Suddenly Nadae wondered how she would be spending her late nights.

"I was hoping your lightsaber would be finished soon. We may need it on our assignment to Asation." Qui-Gon stated calmly.

Nadae frowned. "Our assignment?"

"Yes, in a few days you'e accompanying Obi-Wan and I on a salvage and discover mission," he paused for a brief moment, taking his time and choosing his words carefully. "Asation has been known to contain some corrupted Force signatures. We need to be careful and possibly defend ourselves."

Nadae understood, however she was uncertain with her skill. Yes, she was sparring almost every day and her skills had improved immensely, however she still remembered she was close to the bottom of her class in duelling.

"And me with a lightsaber is the wisest decision Master Yoda has made?"

"You know Master Yoda wouldn't let you go if you weren't ready, Padawan." He reminded her. "You're his student, you should know Master Yoda's judgement is amongst the best."

She frowned again. "I should be believing it this time, though."

Qui-Gon gestured to her lightsaber. "Being bitter about it won't change anything, aside from what you use as your defence. You'll be safer on this assignment with a sophisticated weapon."

Nads wasn't a huge supporter of being wrong. She reluctantly reached out to the Force, picking up the gleaming green crystal with great delicacy, moving it slowly to the open hatch in the middle of the hilt of the lightsaber.

She knew if the alignment was off, the crystal could cause the weapon to explode. It was a miracle it didn't send her head off when she first ignited it back on Odessan. She placed the crystal in its aligment holder before closing the hatch.

This was it. Her weapon was now complete.

She stood up and walked into the middle of the dark room. She was unsure of what action she should take next.

"Ignite it," Qui-Gon answered for her.

"But-"

"No, Nads. Sometimes a Jedi must take risks."

"But Master Yoda said-"

"What Master Yoda says does not apply to this situation. I know you've done it right."

Nadae swallowed the tightness in her throat. She did not like disobeying Yoda like this, it felt like a crime against the Order.

However, it had to be done.

She closed her eyes, pressed the ignition and heard the satisfying noise of her blade rolling up and illuminating the room with a soft green.

She slowly opened her eyes, she had only ignited one end.

She felt a hand on her shoulder again. "Yoda and Obi-Wan will be proud of you, Nadae'akanyla."

He removed his hand from her shoulder again and she lit up the other end of her blade. She flicked her wrist and twirled the blade in her fingers, sending it around her body creating glowing green circles. All without her searing her robes or chopping off her hand like she thought she would.

I am nearly a Jedi.


Ok I should post more often now. The past few weeks have been hectic, photography assignments here, psychology study there. Kriff happens.

- yoda-is-cool.